An Acoustic (Syndicate) rebirth

Acoustic Syndicate celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2012, but it feels like their next few years as a band will resemble a rebirth.

A new album, likely titled “Rooftop Garden,” will come out in April or May of 2013. Their first studio release in more than eight years will be on the familiar Little King Records label, but the band brought in Grammy winner Stewart Lerman as the producer.

In support of the album, a more intense touring schedule could also be on the horizon for the eclectic bluegrass outfit with roots in upper Cleveland County.

“We may just step it up a little bit after the record comes out,” said vocalist/guitarist Steve McMurry. “It’s hard to tell at this point how big we’re going to go, but it’ll definitely be a significant increase. We’re all real excited about this record, and we’re getting some very positive feedback. It feels like the right thing to do.”

That ability to “feel” is a big reason why Acoustic Syndicate remains on the scene.

Their live shows hinge on improvisation and jamming. Steve, brothers Bryon McMurry (banjo, vocals), Fitz McMurry (drums, vocals), along with Jay Sanders (bass) and Billy Cardine (dobro), each have room to shine on most of Acoustic Syndicate’s originals and classic covers. The band makes out a setlist before each show, but they sometimes veer from the list — and often stretch out and extend songs.

The addition of Cardine on the dobro has helped bring a fuller sound to Acoustic Syndicate, which played as a four-piece for a few years following the departure of saxophonist Jeremy Saunders, who was with the band from 2001-04.

“It’s fun these days with Billy. He’s all over the map as far as what he’s done. He’s a top-level player and great guy,” said Fitz McMurray. “It gives Steve a break as a soloist, and it fills in the gaps and layers the music with extra chords. We like to have a fifth (member). There was a string of shows we did with four, but day in and day out, we like to have that fifth.”

“Feel” also helped the band know it was time to take a break from the rigors of the music business in 2005, especially long tours and recording.“The music industry was steadily going in decline and everyone was scrambling to figure out how to survive,” Steve McMurry said. “The machinery caved in for selling and publicity. The only way we were going to make it, was to get out and travel, but even that was questionable at that time. People weren’t going out and spending their money.

“Fitz and Bryon had tiny babies at the time, and their families needed them. We realized this was probably the right time to take a break … let the industry settle and get to where we need to be. The best thing we did was to take a break. The pressure is kind of off now. We can ease along and see what happens.”

Page 2 of 2 - After a two-year break, Acoustic Syndicate has been easing back into things. Since 2007, their name has been on festival bills throughout the Southeast. Thanksgiving weekend performances at the Orange Peel in Asheville and Christmastime shows at the Visulite in Charlotte have also been staples. Soon, new originals like “Heroes” and “Song for Me” started to form in the live setting, to go along with the likes of “Terra Firma,” “Brown Mountain Lights” and “Rainbow Rollercoaster.”

Now, those new songs represent what appears to be a bright future for a band with an already rich tradition.

“I think we’re all realizing that we’ve got a good record in our hand, we’ve had the time away and we’re ready to do it again,” Steve McMurry said. “There are a lot of reasons to do it. The way it’s shaping up, everybody wants us to do it. It’s like Michael Corleone’s line in the Godfather (Part III), ‘Just when I thought I thought I was out, they pull me back in.’”